Culpepper Compound Microscope in case

The Culpepper company was one of the greatest producers of early microscopes. The first compound microscope was created in the early seventeenth century, and this example is in the traditional style of the pre-1740 microscope, with a central cylinder covered in shagreen, or shark skin. It has a base of lignum vitae wood, and a two-tier brass tripod which supports a cardboard and lignum main body. The shagreen-covered cylinder has a lignum cap.

Revolutionary Players was developed between 2002 and 2004 and financed by the New Opportunities Fund. Revolutionary Players was created by Dr Malcolm Dick & Dr Kate Iles and managed by Birmingham Museums until 2015. Revolutionary Players is now published and funded by History West Midlands.